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Nick Malakhow

Recommended by Nick Malakhow

  • Sancocho by Christin Eve Cato
    5 Feb. 2021
    “ Such a gorgeous, tightly written piece. Using economical but potent dialogue, vivid characterization, and an excellent real-time activity, Christin Eve Cato explores generational/familial trauma, sibling relationships, and the things that prevent us from moving forward with such glorious nuance. Any two-hander needs to be populated by gripping characters, and Renata and Caridad do not disappoint. I would so love to see (and hear and smell and taste) this piece unfold before my eyes onstage. ”
  • HOW TO PICK A LOCK by Tanuja Devi Jagernauth
    4 Feb. 2021
    “ This play is a revelation! What an amazing use of immersive theater techniques and the themes explored--healing and processing in communal and collective spaces, individualism, capitalistic overreach, existential dread of the commodification of society, the dystopian endgame of the cis-white-het-patriarchy--are done so with complexity and nuance. The world building is amazing as well--it manages to never feel like exposition. I'd be so thrilled to experience a production of this! ”
  • Sum of My Blood by Jeremy J. King
    3 Feb. 2021
    “ Another genre-defying piece by King that combines horror tropes, sharp comedy, and a powerful exploration of a segment of queer culture. The supernatural here is such an elegantly executed extended metaphor for the generational divides and connections between younger and older gay men, and the conversations that all of these men have are well articulated, necessary, and natural sounding. The reasons for those divides are beautifully and thoroughly explored and the ending, even though it provides no easy answers, looks towards exchanging alienation and othering for community and coming together. ”
  • Son of Mourning by Jeremy J. King
    2 Feb. 2021
    “ An awesome piece of theatrical horror that has enough atmosphere to sustain its successful slow-burn throughout. That's of course before one even takes into account and appreciates the sophisticated exploration of homophobia, mental health, and queerness. The examination of those intersecting issues in a post-2016 election world is nuanced and well thought out. There's so much to work with here as an actor, director, and designer--an ambitious production company could have a field day both leaning into the horror tropes and the existential dread of it all. I'd love to see this on its feet! ”
  • The Pentad Or Five Beastly Sodomitical Boys by Jeremy J. King
    2 Feb. 2021
    “ Genre-bending, thought-provoking piece that combines ritual, horror, satire, anachronistic period drama, and more! It sounds chaotic, but is actually a very aesthetically coherent and engaging theatrical world. King's five central queer men are all amazingly rich characters that illuminate different aspects of the gay male experience and are intriguing analogues/echoes to the oxymoronic alienation, family, connection, persecution, and power that is characteristic of the community today. Ritual elements range from hilarious to sublimely beautiful to supernaturally compelling. ”
  • The Sugar Ridge Rag by Philip Middleton Williams
    1 Feb. 2021
    “ A lovely, poignant piece that manages to intricately explore the unique relationship of twin brothers as well as larger themes of war and anti-war moral and ethical beliefs, small-town life, and identity. It examines all of these things with equal and impressive nuance and clarity. I also appreciated that Williams eschews fireworks and melodrama and trauma connected to sexuality and LGBTQ identity and simply (and effortlessly) integrates it into the fabric of this family's existence. ”
  • Roman a clef by Chandler Hubbard
    31 Jan. 2021
    “ This is a meaty, innovative piece that deals with family trauma in an amazing way. I appreciated how Hubbard explored perspective, the reconfiguration of traumatic narratives as a survival mechanism, dissociation, and who gets ownership of which stories in this entertaining and original piece. Meta-theatrics done well mix with some hard to watch realism and then a fantastical melding of the two in the final act. The ending is particularly effective, and the sizeable ensemble has ten great roles for ten strong actors. Lots for directors and designers to do here too! ”
  • A House by the Side of the Road - Seven Short Plays About a Family by Philip Middleton Williams
    30 Jan. 2021
    “ A cycle of plays that each work wonderfully as individual units, but which are all the more powerful together. The exploration of the evolving relationship between Dan and his father Clyde is moving in its subtlety and simplicity. Williams foregoes histrionic drama for small, seismic shifts that examine how familial patterns and relationships shape one's life and leave an indelible impression even after those family members pass on. ”
  • Trafficked: A Story by Gretchen Suarez-Pena
    29 Jan. 2021
    “ A harrowing piece that examines a large swath of folks impacted by sex trafficking and one that takes advantage of theatricality. The use of direct address and double/triple casting is powerful, and there is so much to work with here in terms of staging and transitions for directors and designers. I also appreciated how the piece straddles the line between potent human stories and informational and instructive theater. Most of all, it presents all of these characters with insight and compassion. ”
  • The Natural Horse by T. Adamson
    27 Jan. 2021
    “ A wholly original and delightfully theatrical piece that straddles multiple genres and styles, yet manages to feel "chaotically coherent." I loved the creative and vivid voices and inner lives of each character, and I appreciated how moments how sidesplitting hilarity coexisted with contemplative monologues (about intriguing architectural feats) and intriguing fodder for movement direction. The ending was affectingly poignant, and the whole piece underscored the complexities of family, loss, and forging a new path. ”

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